/ SECTION III - WATERFRONT REVITALIZATION PROGRAM POLICIES The Town of Smithtown Local Waterfront Revitalization Program has been de­ signed to be consistent with the State program and to emphasize and describe local conditions, policies, plans and projects. The section on Waterfront Revitalization Program Policies is divided according to State designated policy areas and State policies within each policy area. Each policy may be followed by a statement or statements of additional policies that are relevant to local conditions and/or can strengthen the policies by local actions (indicated by a capital letter following the arabic number, e.g. 2A, 2B, 2C). Following the policy statements are explanations of the policies and descrip­ tions of criteria, standards or guidelines, all of which will be used to evaluate consistency with a particular policy or policies. In general, decisions on public expenditures, land use, and review of private development plans will be measured in terms of compliance with these policies. A. Development Policies Policy 1 RESTORE, REVITALIZE, AND REDEVELOP DETERIORATED AND UNDER­ UTILIZED WATERFRONT AREAS FOR COMMERCIAL, INDUSTRIAL, CULTURAL, RECREATIONAL, AND OTHER COMPATIBLE USES. Policy lA REHABILITATE DETERIORATING RESIDENTIAL STRUCTURES IN SAN REMO AND IN THE VICINITY OF THE KINGS PARK BLUFF. Policy IB REDEVELOP THE WEST END OF THE SMITHTOWN CBD TO A HUB OF WATER DEPENDENT AND WATER ENHANCED, LOW KEY RECREATIONAL USES WITH A MIX OF WATER ENHANCED RESIDENTIAL AND COMMERCIAL USES. Policy lC WHEN THE KINGS PARK PSYCHIATRIC CENTER IS NO LONGER NEEDED FOR rTS ORIGINAL PURPOSE, RESTORE AND REVITALIZE THE CORE ARFA OF THE CENTER FOR INSTITUTIONAL AND RESIDENTIAL USES AND REDEVELOP THE PERIPHERY OF THE CENTER FOR A MIX OF RECREATIONAL, CONSERVATION AND AGRICULTURAL USES. Explanation of Policy Most of the coastline of the Town of Smithtown is utilized for open space/recreation, residential, and institutional purposes. Very little commercial, and no industrial uses, exist in this area. There are pockets of deteriorated residential structures in the San Remo neighborhood and in the vicinity of the Kings Park Bluff that would benefit substantially from rehabilitation for continued single-family residential use. (See Section II - Underutilized Abandoned Deteriorated Sites.) The Bluff area shall be added to the San Remo Neighborhood Strategy Area under the Town CDBG program. The Neighborhood Strategy Area status shall be continued until structural goals of the CDBG program are met. 1II-3 \ Commercial development at the west end of the Smithtown CaD (Head of the River) is a source of many problems in the waterfront area. Certain intensive and intrusive land uses are not compatible with the nature of the Nissequogue River. NYS 25, NYS 25A and parking areas accessory to commercial uses are believed to be significant sources of storm water run-off pollution. Excessive noise levels caused by area traffic volumes detract from the aesthetic value of the Nissequogue River. Land uses in the waterfront section of the can include three filling stations, three taverns, retail stores, a large indoor flea market, and miscellaneous small businesses. A large percentage of this section of the caD is undeveloped. Vacant industrial and commercial parcels shall be developed for less intensive uses in an effort to reduce traffic congestion, minimize environmental impact, avoid conflicts with water dependent recreation uses, as well as to promote the concentration of intensive uses in the existing core of the CaD. Less intensive uses will facilitate the redesign of the commercial strip, control access, improve pedestrian movement, and enhance the visual quality of the waterfront. The basic kinds of uses that will be permitted in this area include passive recreation, limited active recreation (picnicking. tennis, etc.), attached single-family dwellings, convenience stores, small offices, taverns, restaurants, and boat sales, rentals and services. About 25 acres of wetland on the west side of NYS 25A, 500 feet north of Jericho Turnpike will be used for conservation purposes. The area is almost totally wetland and unsuitable for any developed use. Approximately 16 acres of vacant property on the east side of 25A, formerly zoned for various kinds of business and residential uses, are proposed for attached high density residential use. It is recognized that the development constraints are much more severe on the west side property due to wetlands as opposed to the upland area on the east side. A few small parcels in the vicinity of the statue of the bull are designated for recreational uses. Two of the properties are vacant and less than one acre each, however their development for intensive use would cause a significantly adverse impact on traffic and the River. Three of the parcels have commercial establishments including an auto body repair garage. This land use change would reduce the threat to surface water quality and visual quality, and use would increase access and recreational opportunities in the waterfront. These uses would be relocated outside the sensitive area and the parcels would be made part of the greenbelt trail. The site of the body shop would also be used as an ecological storm water drainage basin. Three parcels on the north and south sides of Main Street totalling approximately 26 acres are designated for recreational uses. Two parcels on the south side of the road total about nine acres and are vacant. The parcel on the north side has a 110,000 square foot flea market on a 17 acre site. These parcels abut the Nissequogue River greenbelt and their development for active recreation would significantly enhance access to this section of the waterfront because they front on a major highway. III-4 ---- -- / The Kings Park Psychiatric Center area is currently defined as institutional, as it is maintained by New York State for the operation of a psychiatric center. This property should consist of a variety of land uses. The Center should consist of a core area of institutional and recreational uses, buildings, and infrastructure surrounded by an open space buffer. The open space buffer would consist of active recreation, agriculture, and conservation land uses. Most of the active recreation would be located on NYS 2SA near the entrance to the Center. The previously farmed prime agricultural soils in the vicinity of NYS 2SA. Lawrence Road and Old Dock Road should be used for agricultural purposes. If agricultural use is not feasible, this area should remain as a natural, but unwooded, buffer for the purpose of providing valuable wildlife habitat. The Town has many acres of woodland habitats, but virtually no abandoned field ecosystems. The existing wooded areas along Lawrence Road and Old Dock Road should remain in their natural State to act as a buffer separe.ting the institutional use from the surrounding residential land uses. The Town is proposing to construct a 20 acre community park at this location. About 10 acres would be permitted for active recreation in the boat basin mooring area. Expansion of the existing boating facilities could be accommodated on previously filled wetlands without significantly affecting existing wetlands. The kinds of uses that will be permitted in this area includes, residences, hospitals, nursing homes, clinics, health related facilities, colleges, schools, research and development activities; uses customarily accessory to institutions such as storage buildings and areas, laundry plants, sewage treatment, power generation, recreational facilities (e.g., swimming pools), residence for the staff; limited active recreation (no amusement parks); boat clubs; golf courses; membership clubs; passive recreation; forestry; agriculture and animal husbandry. The following additional guidelines will be used in implementing development or redevelopment actions: a. Priority should be given to uses which are dependent on a location adjacent to the water; b. The action should enhance existing and anticipated uses; c. The action could serve as a catalyst to private investment in the area; d. The action should improve the deteriorated condition of a site and, at a minimum, must not cause further deterioration (i.e. a building could not be abandoned without protecting it against vandalism and/or structural decline); e. The action must lead to development which is compatible with the character of the area, with consideration given to scale, architec­ tural style, density, and intensity of use; f. The action should have the potential to improve the existing economic base of the community; IlI-S \ g. The action should improve adjacent and upland views of the water, and, at a minimum, must not affect these views in an insensitive manner; and h. The action should have the potential to improve the potential for multiple uses of the site. 1. The redevelopment of abandoned structures should result in less environmental impacts than those posed by previous uses. Policy 2 FACILITATE THE SITING OF WATER DEPENDENT USES AND FACILITIES ON OR ADJACENT TO COASTAL WATERS. Explanation of Policy The following uses and facilities are suitable water-dependent uses in the Town of Smithtown: 1. Uses which depend on the utilization of resources found in coastal waters (for example: finfishing and mariculture activities); 2. Recreational activities which depend on access to coastal waters (for example: swimming, fishing, boating, wildlife viewing); 3. Structures needed for navigational purposes (for example: locks, dams, lighthouses);